The Puget Sound Partnership defines itself as a “community effort of citizens, governments, tribes, scientists and businesses working together to restore and protect Puget Sound.”  The Partnership divided the state into seven action areas, rather than by counties.  Mason County is divided into two action areas:  The Hood Canal and South Puget Sound.

The Partnership recently released a list of projects proposed for the restoration and protection of the Puget Sound Watersheds.  There were 522 projects with a total cost of $373,157,327.  The projects are in various stages of completion depending on funding.  Some of the projects are totally funded and some are still looking for funds.

Mason County is included in the Kennedy/Goldsborough Watershed and the Hood Canal Watershed. There were 14 projects in the Kenney Creek/Goldborough Watershed totaling $13,041,270. Itemized by name of project, sponsor, and cost, these projects are:

• Goldsborough Creek Sanitary Sewer Improvement Project, City of Shelton, $1,321,210
• Eagle Point Shoreline Acquisition, City of Shelton, $675,300
• *Totten Inlet Estuarine Habitat Acquisition, Capitol Land Trust,  $804,431
• Harstine Island Shoreline Acquisition, Washington State Parks, $2,965,200
• WRIA 14 Three-Year Work Program Project Development, South Puget Sound Salmon Enhancement Group,  $129,410
• *Ink Blot & Shum Ocher Creek Naps 2008, Washington State DNR, $1,747,200
• Harstine Island, Scott Acquisition, Washington St Parks, $5,100,500
• **7 projects under $100,000, various, $298,019

There were 49 projects in the Hood Canal Watershed, totaling $33,414,331.  I have only reported the projects that appear to be located in Mason County. Itemized by name of project, sponsor, and cost, these projects are:

• Belfair Wastewater & Reclamation Facilities Mason County, $6,796,736
• North Shore Hood Canal Pollution Identification and Correction Mason County Public Health, $187,500
• Onsite Septic System discovery & Pollution Abatement, Mason County Public Health, $303,702
• Belfair State park – Phillips, Washington State Parks,  $997,221
• Lynch Cove Estuary, Washington State DFW, $1,406,265
• Lower Union River Estuary Acquisition, Washington State DFW. $1,935,950
• Belfair Estuary Restoration, Washington state Parks, $1,156,273
• Skokomish General Investigation, Skokomish Indian Tribe, $1,211,000
• Gibbons Creek Fish Passage, Mason Conservation District, $310,000
• Tahuya River Habitat Restoration, Hood Canal Salmon Enhancement Group, $168,220
• Skokomish Estuary Island Restoration, Skokomish Indian Tribe, $2,000,000
• Skokomish-Nalley Island Dike Removal, Skokomish Indian Tribe, $1,212,000
• Skokomish West Bank Dike Removal, Mason Conservation District, $940,380
• Union Estuary Johnson Farm Dike Design, Hood Canal Salmon Enhancement Group, $130,080
• South Hood Canal Riparian Enhancement, Mason Conservation District, $404,044
• Union River Estuary Acquisition, Pacific Northwest Salmon Center, $1,935,000
• **9 Projects under $100,000, various,  $437,523

The Partnership is touting its success in removing the Elwha and Glines Dams and the restoration project at Nisqually Estuary.  They also are involved in other projects including the removal of old fishing nets from the Puget Sound.  All of these projects have received federal stimulus dollars. 

I will continue to monitor and report of the progress of cleaning up the Puget Sound.

*  Not located in Mason County
** This is a mixture of Jefferson, Clallam, Thurston  and Mason County projects.

< Prev		Next >